Combined parallel work support and clamp



' 21, 1939. HAGQPIAN 2,148,156

COMBINED PARALLEL WORK SUPPORT AND CLAMP Filed Sept. 15, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 21, 1939.

A. HAGOPIAN 2,148,156

COMBINED PARALLEL WORK SUPPORT AND CLAMP 7 Filed Sept. 15, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 2 flvidesHq qopzan 1 S 6 2 4:5 2 1 5 z 2]. I

flit-clumps Patented Feb. 21, 1939 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED PARALLEL WORKSUPPORT AND CLAMP Avides Hagopian, Springfield, Mass., assignor to TheL. S. Starrett Company, Athcl, Mass., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication September 15, 1937, Serial No. 163,979

2 Claims.

The subject matter herein involved is a device which may be termed aparallel work holder or support. It is adapted to hold work of irregularform not conveniently held by ordinary jaws as in vises or clampsbecause of some protuberance but otherwise having parallel surfacesavailable for firm engagement so that the work can be held as on theplaten of a press for drilling, ream ing or like operations.

As illustrative of such devices, I have shown a specific construction ofproven versatility in use and capable of production and distribution ona commercial basis so as to be available to the general trade for quickand convenient use on a.

wide variety of jobs. These heretofore have had to be handled on blocksand parallels in improvised ways that were slow and costly. The presentinvention makes possible a simple and convenient equipment adapted tonew and better standardized technique in shop practice.

A characteristic device is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a holderin accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 shows a section on the lines 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the slidable bearing block on the section 4--4 through thelongitudinal guide bar.

Fig. 5 illustrates the set-up of a characteristic piece of work as in agrinder or like machine.

Fig. 6 is a view showing another and differently shaped piece of workclamped and indicated as positioned under a drill as in a drill press.

Fig. '7 illustrates another work set-up in which parallel clamps areused to hold two pieces of work as for example a die plate and shoe, thelatter being held between the edges of the clamp Jaws.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary partly sectional detail of a modified form ofbar attachment to the fixed jaw and a modified bearing on the movable orfloating jaw, and

Fig. 9 is an end view of the same.

In the form shown in the drawings my parallel work holder or combinedwork holder and support consists of a fixed jaw and a relatively movablejaw 2, preferably of the same shape but at least having an edgedisposable in parallel coincidence 50 with that of the jaw I.

The so-called fixed jaw I carries a guide bar 3 on which the jaw 2 isslidably supported by a cylindrical bearing 4 in a block 5 on its outerface. The guide bar 3 also forms a convenient 65 handle for picking upor holding against rotation the holder andits work. The bearing block 5is formed with a longitudinal web 6 disposed radially of the bearing 4and tapped to receive the clamp screw 1 turned by a knurled head 8 whichmay have a transverse capstan hole or holes 9 for tightening the clampscrew 1 when the work is in place between the jaws I and 2. The bottomface IQ of the block 5 provides a broad bearing which with the extendedbottom edges 2| and 22 of the jaws l and 2 give the holder greatstability.

The upper edges of these jaws are formed with shallow shoulders I0 andI2 in opposed parallel relation so as to be engageable with the work onany available edges or lines of free clamping contact. It is thuspossible to clamp and support castings'or other irregular pieces of workto be drilled, reamed or otherwise prepared or finished on a drill pressor the like, without the usual inconvenient use of blocks or parallelsto secure clearances or establish or maintain the desired planes orangles of reference in the layout of the work.

The top face of the bar or post 3 is longitudinally kerfed as at l3toreceive the end of the clamp screw 1. The bottom of the kerf or sloti3 is milled at an incline to the longitudinal axis of the bar 3 withits deeper end adjacent the fixed jaw l. The point of the screw 1 whenset up against any part of the kerf bottom has a resistant advantage toany opening pressures developed between the jaws while holding the work.The kerf l3 also forms a keyway for the movable or floating jaw 2 topreserve the general parallelism of the shoulders I!) and I2 of thecooperating jaw pair. The ultimate parallelism when the work is set upis maintained by the parallel edge faces 2| and 22.

To provide for a clamping or pinch of the work between the jaws l and 2to prevent lateral slip as in grinding, a clamp screw head I5 is letinto the edge of the shoulder l2 and is tapped into the upper jaw 2. Itis easily set up by the small screw slot l4. As a provision for theadditional horizontal maintenance of the bar or post 3 to preventtipping from any predetermined axis of reference, I may provide asliding bearing block l6 having a footed bottom face I! and adjustablyheld on 3 by a set screw l8.

The bottom faces 2| and 22 of the jaws and 2 are preferably ground withfiat parallel faces. These with the adjacent face l9 of the block 5 formstable supporting surfaces which are supplemented by the foot face ll ofthe slide block l6.

Thus the clamp has a base inclusive of the Cir planes 2|, 22, I9 and 11,upon which it bears on platen or table of the machine in which the workis being acted on.

In practice I have found it usually convenient to lay the clamp on itsback in position under the drill D, disc G, or other tool. The work isthen clamped between the edges of the jaws I and 2 and the whole linedup accurately in the line or plane of the relative feed of-the toolused. The whole is then clamped firmly and operations begun as in thecase of any similar job heretofore blocked up with parallels and held byclamps as needed. The jaws l and 2 may be apertured as at 32 preferablyleaving a straight portion 33 parallel with the jaw edge and adapted tobe engaged by auxiliary clamps where desired.

As illustrative of characteristic set-ups as in a grinder or in a drillpress; Ihave shown. irregular pieces of work W and W held in one of mydevices as in Figs. 5 and 6.

In Fig. '7 I have illustrated another set up where it is desiredtoruse'parallel clamps as for example holding a die plate to its; shoeduring drilling. In such a set-up the clamps may be brought inside the;planes of the jaws with their jaw ends and clamp screws freetherebetween.-

It will be immediately apparent to the skilled workman that my deviceprovides in a single handy device all the necessary means for settingupv the average run of pieces of work.

In Figs. 8 and 9. I have-showna modified form of bearing. on the movablejaw 2 asindicated at 25 with a corresponding knob: like, portion 26spaced by a shallow groove 21.. The portions 25 and 26 may beconvenientlyturned up round and then slabbed off as at 28 and 29 to formfiat supporting faces. Also in Fig. 8- I have shown the bar 3' asshouldered at: 3' and held by a nut 30 and washer 3|.

The two forms function in the same manner but the rectangular form isadapted for production by milling while the knob like form can be turnedout on ascrew machine. The groove 21 makes a convenient finger grip inmoving the movable jaw.

The device hereinillustrated is capable of uses limited only by thedemands of variant jobs and the aptitude of the workman in utilizingits: capacities in meeting such demands as they arise.

Various modifications inv design will occur as standardized productionis reached, as for example, apertures or like contour conveniences willbe provided conformable to popular or average needs as interpreted bythe producer of tools or implements of service for the workman at histask.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patenti's 1. Aworkholder comprising-a jaw; a bar rigid with said jaw, a second jawslidably mounted on said bar for movement therealong toward and awayfrom-said. first mentioned jaw, said bar having a groove extendinglongitudinally thereof, the bottom of said groove being inclinedrelative to the axis of said bar and. progressively approaching the axisof said bar as it approaches said first mentioned jaw, a clamp screwcarried by said secondmentioned jaw and extending into said groove forcooperation with the bottom thereof to fasten said second mentioned jawin different positions of. adjustmentalong said. bar, the bottom. facesof said jaws being disposed in a common plane, a. steadying. block for.said holder slidably mountedon said bar and having a flat bottom facedisposed in the same plane as the bottom faces of said jaws.

2'. A work holder comprising ajaw, a bar rigid with said jaw, a secondjaw slidably mounted on said bar for movement therealong toward and awayfrom said. first mentioned jaw, said bar having a groove extendinglongitudinally thereof, the bottom of said groove being inclinedrelative to the axis of said bar andprogressively approaching the axisof said bar asit. approaches said first mentioned. jaw, a. clamp screw.carried by saidv second mentioned jaw and extending into said groove forcooperation with the bottom thereof to fasten said second mentioned jawin different positions. ofadjustment along said bar, the bottom faces ofsaid jaws. being disposed in acommonplane, a steadying block for saidholder slidably mounted on said bar and having a flat bottom facedisposed in the same plane as the bottom faces of said jaws, said jaws.having formed therethrough. work. clamping elementv accommodating'openings. the walls defining the tops of which are parallel to the topfaces of said jaws. I

AVIDES I-IAGOPIAN.

